Pull-through resections for carcinoma of the rectum.

Pull-through operations have been undergoing evaluation as a treatment for carcinoma of the rectum in several centres. Functional results at one and two years have been between 1960 and 1970, which enables a five-year follow-up. Forty-eight of these were palliative procedures, with a mean survival time of nine months. Only 11 patients were Dukes A cases and none of these have died from their disease. One hundred and five were Dukes B, with a 73% five-year survival. The Dukes C cases had only a 22% five-year survival. The main problems have been related to the blood supply to the exteriorized distal colon.